Improvement in thumb-latches



CHARLES S. JENNINGS, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB TO THOMAS KENNEDY AND CHARLES BLIVEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN THUMB-LATCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 178,933, dated June 20, 1876; application filed May 6, 1s7e. v

4, a transverse section through the case on linez 2, showing the rearend of the latch-bolt; and in Fig. 5, a perspective view of the latchbolt.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of thumb-latches which are constructed with transverse sliding bolts, and

known to the trade as store door latches, the object of the invention beingto produce a right angular lever action directly upon the bolt; also, to adapt the handle to a right or left latch, and, also, to draw the latch bolt without an unusual movement of the thumbpiece; and .the invention consists, first, in

combining in a latch handle the verticallymoving thumb-lever, with a second lever moving transversely and in. connection with the latch-bolt, so that the downward movement of the thumb piece imparts through the second lever a direct transverse movement; second, in providing the handle-plate with a fulcrum upon each side of the thumb-lever for the said second or transverse lever, whereby the said second lever may be adjusted for either side of the door, or right and left hand latch; third, in constructing the tail of the bolt with a bearing for the actuating lever upon the opposite side of the case from which the lever enters.

A is the handle-plate, provided with a bandle, B, in the usual manner. In this plate the thumb-piece C is hung upon a pintle, on, also in thcusual manner. From the pintle the thumbpiece extends down, forming an arm, D, of the thumb-lever.

()n the back of the handle-plateabell-crank lever, E F, is hung upon a fulcrum, d, this fulcrum being at right angles or vertical to thehorizontal pivot a of the thumb-lever, and so that, by depressing the thumb-piece, as indicated in broken lines, the arm F of the bellcrank or transverse lever will be thrown back,

as indicated in. broken lines, Fig. 2. In order that this leverE F may be set for either side of the door, or for a right or left hand door, a similar fulcrum, d, is arranged upon the opposite side of the thumb lever C D, and the lever E F is constructed so as to be changed and set upon either fulcrum, according to the position required.

The lever E F enters through the latchcase, or in connection with the latch bolt, so that its transverse movement, when thrown back by the thumb-lever, will draw in the latch-bolt, and this is applicable to various known constructions of latches.

It will be readily seen that the farther the bearing for the lever E F on the latch-bolt is carried to the opposite side of the latch-case, the less may be the movement of the thumbpiece. To do this I construct the case G with a recess at its rear end, and make the bolt broader at its rear end, as at 0, so as to come substantially flush with the outside of the case, as seen in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, and in each of these extensions of the latch-bolt, and upon the side opposite where the lever strikes, a bearing, f, is made for that lever, hence the lever is enabled to take its hearing at the extreme opposite side of the case, and thus enable the movement of the latch bolt without an unusual movement of the thumb-lever, and with much less friction upon the latchbolt, because the sliding movement of the lever will be less as the distance of the hearing from the fulcrum is increased.

Corresponding handles may be placed upon opposite sides of the door, and each lever will take its bearing upon its own independent seat, and upon the side of the case opposite that in which the lever enters.

In the arrangement of the handle upon the opposite side, it will be understood that the transverse lever E F must he changed to the other fulcrum.

I claim- 1. The combination, in a latch handle, of structed with a transverse projection, e, the thumb lever G D, and transverse lever E through the case at the rear end, so as to form F, substantially as described. bearing f for the latch-lever, substantially as 2. The combination, in a latch handle, of described.

the thumb lever O D, the transverse lever E F, and a fulcrum at each side of the thumb- JENNINGS lever for the adjustment of the transverse le- Witnesses:

ver, substantially as described. JOHN E. EARLE,

3. In a sliding thumb latch, the bolt, con- OLARA BROUGHTON. 

